Ukraine is considering hiring retired NATO military pilots to fly its newly acquired F-16 fighter jets, according to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
This is part of Ukraine’s effort to strengthen its air force as the conflict with Russia continues.
During a visit to Kyiv, Graham mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to create a program to recruit experienced NATO pilots to operate the F-16s.
"We support that effort," Graham stated in a press release.
The U.S. approved the transfer of F-16 fighters to Ukraine in May 2023, and the first batch, provided by the Netherlands, arrived this summer. Additional planes are promised by Denmark, Belgium, and Norway, with around 80 fighters expected in total.
Training programs for Ukrainian pilots are already underway in Britain, the U.S., and other partner countries. But there aren't yet enough trained pilots to fully use the jets.
U.S. officials told The New York Times that only about 20 Ukrainian pilots will be ready to fly the F-16s by the end of this year. Since each jet requires a two-person crew, Ukraine could initially operate only about ten jets.
Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated that the jets would be key in strengthening Ukraine's air defenses.
He noted that the aircraft would need to stay more than 40 kilometers from the front lines to avoid being shot down by Russian forces.
The Ukrainian Air Force believes that two squadrons of F-16s, totaling 24 jets, could make a significant impact on the battlefield.
These fighters, equipped with short- and medium-range missiles, could counter Russian aircraft and help fill gaps in Ukraine’s air defense systems.
